Massive Day - Crouch and winning Battles

[Vazelos]

What a massive day yesterday as the free western world was focusing on the US elections Saints fans were grinning ear to ear at 5 pm with the news we picked up Brad Crouch for free as the Crows didn't match the offer.
Put into perspective what we had to offer to get Brad Hill over the line. In isolation we got bent over but due to good wins with Howard Butler Jones and Ryder it tempered the real estate we had give up to bring a class outside mid that we were so desperate to find.
We pick up a B&F winner with GF experience in his prime inside bull that can kick goals with elite ceiling capacity. Those type of wins get you nearer the last 2 weeks of September. Our first pick stays as well which is vital to keep bringing in high level young talent.
Jack Steele Brad Crouch Zak Jones Dan Hannebery Seb Ross Jade Gresham Hunter Clark Jack Bytel Jack Sinclair Brad Hill Jack Billings Ryan Byrnes (Dunstan will only stay of we can't offload him he is surplus to requirements).
The midfield runs deep now and it has hardness inside and outside capacity some grunt some speed and some class it probably lacks one true elite A ++ midfielder but we can compete now in finals and not fear we will lose many midfield battles as we have in 2020 at times.
What I also like is Crouch is tough hard and little nasty in the Steele mould we walk taller with his addition.
What's left to do-
Upgrade Higgins for Lonie for same real estate would be a good outcome. Higgins is a good footballer and can play he does lack elite speed that's his only negative but compared to Lonie he is stronger and Lonie isn't quick either he is a more complete player than Lonie.
Finalise Carlisle on terms we want he needs to stay motivated on short term performance based contracts and he will have Clavarino breathing down his neck next year the forgotten man on our list is internally highly rated to take the next step.
Secure a back up Ruckman and go to the draft again and it's been a good summer.
The continued improvent of half of our list make us an interesting proposition in 2021.
Kudos to Lethlean Gallagher and the whole team it's just a different club to what we have we've been these guys are the best operators going around . Go Saints

[asiu]

What I also like is Crouch is tough hard and little nasty...

thats likable

[Vazelos]

What I also like is Crouch is tough hard and little nasty...

thats likable

Great qualities in the AFL world dont you agree?

[asiu]

obviously , i do

must be that early Slowbart upbringing of mine

a chip on both shoulders is balance
as far as i can tell

[st.byron]

A a little bit of c*** and hardness sends a message to the opposition - “don’t **** with us”.

[Vazelos]

obviously , i do

must be that early Slowbart upbringing of mine

a chip on both shoulders is balance
as far as i can tell

Ask yourself when Cotchin slammed Jones to the ground and almost broke his neck if Crouch is in there with Steele how we could respond.

[asiu]

thats what Longy is for
.... at pace , shoulder tucked in


coz he enjoys doing it

[Vazelos]

thats what Longy is for
.... at pace , shoulder tucked in


coz he enjoys doing it

Longy is light framed and got rubbed out twice this season.
You need "enforcers" 2020 version which is very limited compared to the old days.
Big bodies strong tough guys that can physically influence contests and ensure other players are not bullied.
Crouch is tough like Steele and its exactly what we needed.

[roskilde]

Is it too early for Clarke to become a B grade midfielder next year? I really hope they're considering making him a more permanent part of the midfield.

With his class in the crowd, Steele and Crouch's grunt and Jones, Hill's and Billing's running we're looking the building blocks for something very exciting. Feels like we've got a good balance now as well.

Go Saints.

[asiu]

he is lightly framed
don’t mean much when running off the line
with intent
you can still hurt em if you’re all c**k ‘n ribs

plus
he’ll meat up

[asiu]

he’s my favourite

[Joffa Burns]

he is lightly framed
don’t mean much when running off the line
with intent
you can still hurt em if you’re all c**k ‘n ribs

plus
he’ll meat up

All elbows and arseholes

[St Plugger]

Yep, like Longs intent. see football, get football. If your in the way, so be it! I also like that streak in Battles game as well!!

[asiu]

he is lightly framed
don’t mean much when running off the line
with intent
you can still hurt em if you’re all c**k ‘n ribs

plus
he’ll meat up

All elbows and arseholes

is that like a helpful ‘technical adjustment’ on what i was attempting to express ?


sorry , didn’t mean to offend
(much)

but
you can only express
from your experience ay

[Joffa Burns]

he is lightly framed
don’t mean much when running off the line
with intent
you can still hurt em if you’re all c**k ‘n ribs

plus
he’ll meat up

All elbows and arseholes

is that like a helpful ‘technical adjustment’ on what i was attempting to express ?


sorry , didn’t mean to offend
(much)

but
you can only express
from your experience ay

Well I'm often called one of the two body parts I referenced above, and it isn't elbows

[Saintmatt]

Is it too early for Clarke to become a B grade midfielder next year? I really hope they're considering making him a more permanent part of the midfield.

With his class in the crowd, Steele and Crouch's grunt and Jones, Hill's and Billing's running we're looking the building blocks for something very exciting. Feels like we've got a good balance now as well.

Go Saints.

He's already a B midfielder. He played enough games in there to show what he's capable of. And that's without training for it. There's a difference between a centre square midfielder and a general stoppage midfielder. Hunter is already going ok as a general but it takes a team of 3 well-drilled centre sq midfielders to work together to block and create space for the 'chosen one' to burst through the front of the stoppage. We'd done that very well with Ryder and Gresh just before Gresh had to finish up for the year. Goddamit.

Even without Crouch - I thought we'd be a better midfield group next year just by Hunter and Bytel training a pre-season and more minutes in game.